Patents Examined by James F Sims, III
  • Patent number: 10946469
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of welding of at least two metal-based materials (5, 7), non-weldable directly to each other with resistance welding. At least one spacer (6) is joined by welding on at least one of the two surfaces of a material (5) in every interstice between two surfaces of materials to be welded. The welded spacer (6) is utilized so that resistance welding is focused to the surface of the material (5) with the spacer (6) to melt at least one spacer (6) located on the heat affecting zone in order to achieve a weld between the metal-based materials (5, 7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oyj
    Inventors: Stefan Lindner, Jasminko Skrlec
  • Patent number: 10946478
    Abstract: Objects to be welded are joined together by laser welding to form adjacent nuggets. When a distance between central axes of the adjacent nuggets is p and a diameter of the adjacent nuggets in the objects to be welded is d, the adjacent nuggets are formed so as to satisfy an equation 1.0<p/d?1.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Hisada, Toru Hioki, Masaki Morino
  • Patent number: 10946473
    Abstract: A method of forming structure on a component includes: providing a component having a first surface; adhering powder to the first surface; and directing a beam from a directed energy source to fuse the powder in a pattern corresponding to a layer of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald Scott Bunker, William Thomas Carter, Wayne Charles Hasz
  • Patent number: 10912411
    Abstract: A roller cooking apparatus evenly cooks food while requiring minimal, if any, user intervention. The roller cooking apparatus includes a removable cooking chamber that can be rotated while heat is applied to cook food placed therein. The roller cooking apparatus can include a plurality of pre-programmed cooking modes and may also be manually programmed to set any of a plurality of parameters. These parameters can include cooking temperature, rotation speed, chamber angle, steam retention or exhaust, cooking time and the like. The design of the inner chamber may vary, including solid walled chambers, ventilated chambers, chambers with inner paddles, or the like. The resulting roller cooker can cook a variety of foods in a single step and may even include a feature of automatically opening its lid to deliver cooked food to a serving dish, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventors: Travis Twining, John Stump
  • Patent number: 10917941
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to thawing a cryogenically frozen sample. The systems, devices, and methods may be used to heat a sample holder, the sample holder configured to receive a sample container holding the frozen sample. A sample thaw start time may be identified by measuring a temperature of the sample container and/or a temperature of the sample. A sample thaw end time may be calculated as a function of the sample thaw start time. In some embodiments, the same thaw start time may be identified by a significant change in a first derivative of a warming curve of recorded temperature measurements. The sample end time may be calculated by adding a constant to the sample thaw start time. The constant may be the average sample thaw time per the sample container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: BioLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Schryver, David Shannon
  • Patent number: 10903173
    Abstract: A self-destructing device includes a frangible substrate having at least one pre-weakened area. A heater is thermally coupled to the frangible substrate proximate to or at the pre-weakened area. When activated, the heater generates heat sufficient to initiate self-destruction of the frangible substrate by fractures that propagate from the pre-weakened area and cause the frangible substrate to break into many pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher L. Chua, Norine Chang, Gregory Whiting
  • Patent number: 10888945
    Abstract: Welding power supplies with regulated background power supplies are disclosed. An example welding power supply includes a background circuit, which comprises: a power supply capable of outputting a first power output; an energy storage device configured to be charged by the first power output to a programmable first voltage level; a fast acting switch coupled to the energy storage device and configured to switch to restrict or allow voltage discharge from the energy storage device to welding electrodes; and a control circuit configured to selectively activate the power supply to output the first power output when the energy storage device is not charged to the regulated first voltage level, and further configured to actuate the fast acting switch to allow voltage discharge of the energy storage device from the regulated first voltage level to a controlled second voltage level when a transient high voltage event is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Bernard J. Vogel
  • Patent number: 10863861
    Abstract: A waffle sandwich maker includes first and second waffle plates which contact a food product during preparation of the food product. The first waffle plate includes a plurality of protrusions defining a plurality of channels, a female connector having a hole, a male connector having a protrusion and a first spacer extending inward relative to the plurality of protrusions. The pluralities of protrusions and channels create depressions and ridges in the food product. The protrusion of the male connector and the hole of the female connector of the first waffle plate mate with a hole of a female connector and a protrusion of a male connector of the second waffle plate. The first spacer contacts the second waffle plate during preparation of the food product, which includes an outer dough encapsulating a filling, to maintain the first waffle plate spaced at least approximately 0.5 inches from the second waffle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberta M Langenfeld, Ralph A Stenvik, Lisa Swanson, Karla M Fuentes, Michele K. Wolf, Zachary Harder, Todd A Rasmussen, Bruce D Larson, Shannyn Stuart
  • Patent number: 10864592
    Abstract: A welding system includes an engine configured to drive a generator to produce a first power output. The welding system also includes a battery configured to discharge energy to produce a second power output. In addition, the welding system includes an auxiliary charger coupled to the battery and the generator. The auxiliary charger is configured to maintain a float charge of the battery when the first and second power outputs are reduced from a base load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Ulrich, Allen Raymond Sykes
  • Patent number: 10861730
    Abstract: An object is to provide an electrostatic chuck device having high heat resistance, which can be used even under high-temperature environment. An electrostatic chuck device includes: an electrostatic chuck section having a placing surface for placing a plate-shaped sample on one main surface thereof and an electrode for electrostatic adsorption; a temperature-controlling base section which is provided on the other side of the electrostatic chuck section in relation to the placing surface to cool the electrostatic chuck section; a heater element which is provided in a form of a layer between the electrostatic chuck section and the temperature-controlling base section; and a first adhesive layer which is provided between the heater element and the electrostatic chuck section to adhere the heater element and the electrostatic chuck section to each other, in which the first adhesive layer is made of inorganic glass or an inorganic material having a partially crystallized glass structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO OSAKA CEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hironori Kugimoto
  • Patent number: 10857612
    Abstract: A method and system for internally determining, within a welding power supply, the energy input into a weld during a welding operation. The method includes determining a total energy input into the weld during a first time period, and determining a length of the weld made during the first time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Daniel, Edward Hillen, William T. Matthews
  • Patent number: 10859056
    Abstract: An electronic control for engine block heater elements for heating an engine to an engine ready temperature includes a power input, a power output, and a controller. The controller includes a clock for keeping a time and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature. The controller is configured for controlling the power from the power input to the power output in at least two modes of operation for heating the engine to the engine ready temperature. The second mode of timed ready is where the power from the power input to the power output is connected at a pre-calculated time interval for the purpose of making ready the subject vehicle for starting at the desired start time as set by the user. The third mode of maintain ready is where the power from the electrical outlet to the engine block heater element is regulated to maintain the engine ready temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Bostic Motors Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Graham Aiello
  • Patent number: 10850339
    Abstract: A method for checking a geometry of an electric discharge machining electrode is described. The method comprises the following steps: providing a file containing a native 3D-model of the electric discharge machining electrode; providing a manufactured electric discharge machining electrode based on the native 3D-model; light scanning a set of images of the manufactured electric discharge machining electrode in different positions and generating therewith a scanned 3D-model of the manufactured electric discharge machining electrode; comparing the native 3D-model and the scanned 3D-model and generating electrode compensation coordinates for an electric discharge machining apparatus, to correct an electrode path during electric discharge machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Srl
    Inventors: Massimo Arcioni, Claudio Bartali
  • Patent number: 10845090
    Abstract: A heating system may include at least two different types of heating elements. The heating elements may include at least one infrared heating element and at least one halogen lamp. The heating elements may be positioned within a heating section of a duct through which air flows to be heated by the heating elements, which air flow may be driven by a fan. The heating system may be incorporated into a variety of heating devices, such as electric fireplaces and space heaters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Twin-Star International, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Crowe
  • Patent number: 10828722
    Abstract: This relates to a method of manufacturing a metallic component by additive layer manufacturing. The method comprises the step of providing a layer of granular metallic material. The layer of the granular metallic material is melted by a laser beam or electron beam which applies a defined scanning strategy, which is defined in such a way that a first region of the layer is melted before a second region of the layer such that during the subsequent solidification, residual stresses emerge in the first and the second region. These residual stresses act as integrated crack stoppers of the metallic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Tom Shearn
  • Patent number: 10807326
    Abstract: A method of making monolithic carbon nanotube heater elements with geometric shape with multiple, complex curvatures is disclosed. The method includes depositing carbon nanotubes on to a forming surface, draining the carbon nanotubes, and drying the carbon nanotubes. Alternatively, the method includes thermoforming carbon nanotube sheets containing thermoplastic binders. The resulting carbon nanotube heater element is a thin, monolithic carbon nanotube heater sheet having a geometric shape with complex curvatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Wenping Zhao, Zaffir A. Chaudhry, Galdemir Cezar Botura, Tommy M. Wilson, Jr., Brad Hartzler
  • Patent number: 10798790
    Abstract: A microwave heating system configured for heating a plurality of articles is provided. One or more of the microwave launchers can be offset slightly, such that the microwave energy introduced into the heating chamber is discharged at a launch tilt angle of at least 2°. Additionally, each launcher can include a microwave-transparent window disposed between the microwave chamber and the one or more launch openings and at least 50 percent of the chamber-side surface of the window can be oriented at an angle of at least 2° from the horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Microwave Materials Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold Dail Kimrey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10780523
    Abstract: An AM continuous welding system (AMCWS) is provided. The AMCWS includes a feedstock dispenser that configured to emit feedstock at a designated location, and a heat source configured to heat the feedstock. The AMCWS also includes a first eddy current sensor array that is configured to generate a first plurality of sensor signals while in current-sensing proximity of a re-solidified feedstock segment. A controller is coupled to the first eddy current sensor array and is configured to determine, based on the first plurality of sensor signals, a first characteristic of the re-solidified feedstock segment. The controller determines that the first characteristic is a first undesirable characteristic, and initiates an action based on the first undesirable characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Sargent
  • Patent number: 10750897
    Abstract: A device for extracting a substance to be brewed comprising: an extraction compartment in a first and a second portion, movable relative to the first portion to switch the compartment between a closed position and an open position; a linking device between the first and the second portion, comprising a holder with a first link so configured as to produce a rotation of the holder relative to the first portion, and a second link relative to the second portion, and the device comprises an articulation joint so configured as to successively produce, during a rotational motion of the holder about the first link in a first direction of rotation, a first tilting of the second portion in the first direction, then a second tilting of the second portion in a second direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: UNIC
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Levi, Mario Levi
  • Patent number: 10743372
    Abstract: An electrical heating device comprising a support and a heating layer made of carbon fibre composite on the support mid connected to an electrical power supply to warm the device. The heating layer has a volume which comprises an electrically conducting circuit part which extends along at least one continuous line, and an electrically non-conducting insulation part which fills the remainder of the volume of the heating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: TOTAL SA
    Inventors: Alexandre Lewandowski, Franck Rey-Bethbeder, Dominique Delaporte, Alain Lechon, Maurice Geli, Yann Buzaré